Hugh Joseph Gaffey
| Hugh J. Gaffey | |
|---|---|
 Major General Hugh Joseph Gaffey | |
| Born |
November 18, 1895 Hartford, Connecticut |
| Died |
June 16, 1946 (aged 50) Godman Field, Kentucky |
| Allegiance |
 United States |
| Service/branch |
 United States Army |
| Years of service | 1917-1946 |
| Rank |
Major general  |
| Commands held |
 2nd Armored Division 4th Armored Division |
| Battles/wars |
World War I World War II |
| Awards |
Army Distinguished Service Medal (2) Silver Star Legion of Merit Bronze Star (2) |
Hugh Joseph Gaffey (18 November 1895 – 16 June 1946) was United States Army major general. He was a career officer who served in World War I and World War II. He was Chief of Staff for General George Patton (Third Army), and commander of the 4th Armored Division during the latter war.
Biography
Born in Hartford, Connecticut, he graduated from Worcester Academy in 1916 and later attended Officers Training School at Fort Niagara, New York State, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Field Artillery Reserve on 15 August 1917. Assigned to the 312th Field Artillery at Fort Meade, Maryland, he went to Europe in August 1918 and served in France and Germany before returning to the United States in August 1919.
During the next two decades he served at various posts in the United States and served with the 15th and 18th Field Artillery and the 7th Cavalry Brigade.
- World War II
He was Assigned to the I Armored Corps in July 1940 and served with them until July 1942 when he was assigned to the 2nd Armored Division. He was appointed brigadier general 5 August 1942 and was sent to the European Theater in November. In April 1944, he was designated Chief of Staff for General Patton's Third Army fighting in France. In December, he replaced Major General John S. Wood as Commander of the 4th Armored Division until March 1945.
- Death
In June 1946, Gaffey was the Commanding General of Fort Knox (Kentucky) when he was killed in a B-25 Mitchell crash as it attempted to land at Godman Field, Kentucky. He was buried at the post cemetery.
Namesake
The U.S. Navy transport ship USNS General Hugh J. Gaffey (T-AP-121) was named in his honor on March 1, 1950.
References
- This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.